Three people died in shootings in OKC over two days. Is public policy on guns to blame?

An 18-year-old man shot dead at an events center.

A 24-year-old man shot to death in a store parking lot.

A 77-year-old woman shot dead by police on the street.

All within two days late last week.

The fatal shootings pushed Oklahoma City's homicide count this year to 70, five fewer than all of last year. And it's only October.

Though not all homicides this year have been gun-related, the increased death toll has put a spotlight on gun violence in Oklahoma City.

In addition to the young man dying early Saturday at an event center , the shooting included injuries to at least a dozen people.

The violence prompted Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt to address the matter on social media:

"Recent shootings in our city fit a familiar pattern ― young men (boys, really), making terrible decisions with grave consequence. Law enforcement absolutely plays a role in these events, and we must continue to fund and support law enforcement. Having said that, we have to recognize that there is more to it. Boys whose brains are literally still forming don't always respond rationally to the things that would deter you and I."

The city has averaged 80.8 homicides over the last five years, according to police department data shared with The Oklahoman.

MSgt. Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City Police Department told The Oklahoman in an email there is no discernable pattern among the homicides this year.

"Homicide numbers fluctuate from year to year," Knight said.

Christopher Hill, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Oklahoma whose research areas include criminology, criminal justice and juvenile justice, said in an email that homicides can seem to come in bunches, with little explanation as to why.

"As seasonal or social activity changes bring people into contact with others in public spaces, there is the opportunity for more confrontations to occur," Hill said. "Still, the tension and fear of confrontations is something that pushes most people away from violence most of the time. If confrontations escalate — and ... if a gun is pulled or fired — then one needs to look at characteristics of the situations themselves, not simply the individuals involved in them."

Debate about gun laws in Oklahoma remains strong

Shooting deaths across the state are also spurring discussion among policymakers about Oklahoma's gun laws and whether they help foster a culture of gun violence.

Oklahoma made major changes to its gun laws during the 2012 and 2019 legislative sessions.

Senate Bill 1733, which was authored by then-House Speaker Jeff Hickman and state Sen. Anthony Sykes, authorized open and concealed carry handguns by permit holders.

The measure made Oklahoma the 25th state in the country to allow licensed open carry.

Seven years later, during the term of Gov. Kevin Stitt, lawmakers authorized the "constitutional carry" of handguns under House Bill 2597 . The measure loosened the state's gun laws, allowing most adults to carry a loaded, concealed firearm without a permit.

At that time, Stitt praised the bill and its authors.

"Oklahomans are strong supporters of the Second Amendment, and they made their voice known as I traveled across all 77 counties last year," the governor said in a media statement about the bill.

In the 15 months after the law went into effect, the average number of gun deaths per month increased nearly 20% compared to the 10 years before the new law went into effect, a period in which the population grew just over 6%, according to a 2022 analysis by The Oklahoman.

House Majority Leader Rep. Jon Echols, who authored the bill, said gun sales have decreased in Oklahoma. "I think what's needed is continued emphasis on mental health outcomes. Continued emphasis on changes and issues to address homelessness."

Still, while Echols said violent crime has decreased from 2022 to 2023, he acknowledged that gun violence throughout the country has increased. According to TheTrace.org, citing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, gun deaths in Oklahoma rose from 797 in 2022 to 814 in 2023.

"Something happened in the pandemic," he said. "But we're still above pre-pandemic numbers. There was this massive event that, honestly, changed human history that makes it really hard to compare year over year."

Echols said he didn't believe that open carry laws increased gun violence. He predicted the state Legislature would double down on policies addressing mental health services.

Democrats countered that the changes to state gun laws have not been positive. Rep. Mickey Dollens, a Democrat from Oklahoma City, said the open carry and constitutional carry laws are part of the reason gun violence has increased in the Sooner State.

"Oklahoma has open carry with zero permitting requirements and ranks in the top 10 in the nation for gun violence," Dollens said.

Dollens said "reckless laws have made Oklahoma an easy target for criminals" who exploit our weak gun laws to harm innocent people.

"This is evidenced by the Afghan national who was charged with plotting an Election Day terrorist attack," he said. "One of the reasons they targeted Oklahoma was our lack of gun laws and the ease with which they could legally purchase guns and ammunition."

Police shoot and kill woman they say shot into ground, refused to put down weapon

The recent spate of deadly violence in Oklahoma City started around 10:30 p.m. Thursday when officers responded to what was believed to be an auto-pedestrian traffic collision.

Responding officers found Annette Prince , 77, armed with a pistol, according to the Oklahoma City Police Department.

The incident began with Prince riding as a passenger in a vehicle driven by another woman in the 5200 block of NW 123 Street, according to investigators.

Prince reportedly pulled out a pistol and shot the driver of the car twice. The driver then jumped out of the car and attempted to flee on foot, police said.

Prince moved to the driver's seat, turned the car around, and ran over the initial driver. The driver was taken to an area hospital.

Police said Prince tried to flee the area but crashed and disabled her car at NW 122 and MacArthur Boulevard.

Police said she refused to drop the weapon and fired several shots into the ground. Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation and requested a ballistic shield and non-lethal equipment to the scene, according to police.

Police said Prince continued to refuse to drop the firearm and instead raised and pointed it at officers before she was fatally shot.

Seven officers were involved. They were not injured. Each was placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Gun violence takes other in Oklahoma City

Two days after the deadly officer-involved shooting, violence erupted on the streets of Oklahoma City.

Gerardo Sandoval Jr., 18, was shot to death just before 12:30 a.m. after an argument at a Halloween party at Patty's Event Center in the 5900 block of S Agnew Avenue. At least a dozen people were reported injured at the scene.

Police arrested two adults and a teenager.

Sandoval is described in an online obituary as a man of honor who lived life with dignity and humor.

"He loved to make people feel at ease, and especially enjoyed making everyone around him laugh," Sandoval's obituary states. Known as a "ladies' man" and the class clown, Gerardo had a keen sense of humor that earned him endless amounts of friends and fans over the years. He loved sports and was talented on the basketball court. He also loved boxing. As the man of the house, he enjoyed taking care of things at home, namely his mother, who he absolutely adored."

Still on Saturday, a young man was shot to death in a store parking lot in the 9100 block of N Western Avenue.

Police officers responding about 8:30 p.m. found Javier Morales , 24, dead at the scene. Police said he appeared to be shot to death. They arrested a 20-year-old woman in connection to the shooting and were looking for another suspect.

Investigators said Morales was sitting in his car when an altercation led to the deadly shooting.

Morales worked for the popular "I've Had It" podcast, which is produced in Oklahoma City and co-hosted by interior designer Jennifer Welch and Angie "Pumps" Sullivan, an Oklahoma City divorce lawyer.

Morales was described as someone who was hardworking, happy and curious. He had an infectious smile, say those who knew him well.

Welch spoke about Morales during a phone interview with The Oklahoman this week. Shaken by his death, Welch cried often during the conversation.

"You could never have a better person in your life than this kid," she said.